Convertible hat.



@@Z by E. M. COYNE.

CONVERTIBLE HAT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 15. 1915.

1,187,507. Patented June 20,1916.

IJIIIIIIII.

- 2:22; I Witnesses f 2 Inventor v Attorneys ITE if CONVERTIBLE HAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed September 15, 1915. Serial No. 50,831.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD M. COYNE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chatham, in the Province ofOntario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and usefulConvertible Hat, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to head wear, and relates moreparticularly to sunshade hats, it being the object of the invention toprovide a novel and improved hat of that character.

It is the object to provide a hat which can be converted from a sunshadehat into a hat having a brim, and vice versa, the structure, at the sametime, being comparatively simple, light and inexpensive, and the articlebeing convenient, practical and efficient in use. The hat may be used asa sunshade to protect the wearer from the rays of the sun,

and when desired, the hat may be transformed into a hat of somewhatordinary appearance having a brim, whereby the hat will have more of aconventional appearance when the peculiarities of the sunshade hat arenot wanted.

With the, foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein 1--Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hat in the form of a sunshade.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hat transformed into conventionalform. Fig. 3 is a fragmental section of the hat illustrating one of theribs and accompanying parts in elevation, with the rib in position as inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmental section of the hat. illustrating the ribfolded as in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan of the free end of onerib. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 3. Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating amodification.

In carrying out the invention, there is pro vided a frame or crownadapted to fit upon the head of the wearer in the manner of an ordinaryhat, said frame or crown embody-' metal or other suitable material, andhaving at its lower edge an outturned continuous .flange or lip 2. Theframe or crown also embodies an arched spider 3 whose arms are attachedin any suitable manner to the band 1, preferably to the upper edgethereof.

A sweat band 4 of rubber, leather or other suitable material, is securedupon the inner side of the band 1 and is provided with inwardlyprojecting spaced lugs 5 to contact with the head, and to provide airspaces whereby the air may circulate between the lugs 5. The lugs alsoprovide cushions whereby the hat may be worn with greatest convenience.

Carried by each of the arms or limbs of the spider 3 is a radial ribembodying an inner strip-like section 6 whose inner end is riveted orotherwise secured upon the respective limb of the spider 3, as at 7 adjacent the center or crest of the spider. The rib embodies a second orouter strip-like section 8 having its inner end connected by a springhinge 9 to the outer or free end of the section 6. The sections 6 and 8of the rib are flexible or resilient, whereby they tend to straightenout, and whereby they can be bent. The spring hinge 9 tends tostraighten out the sections 6 and 8 so that they aline, although saidhinge allows the sections to be folded relative to one another when thehat is converted from a sunshade into a conventional form of hat, aswill hereinafter more fully appear. The ribs project radially in variousdirections, there being any suitable number of ribs. The free ends ofthe ribs or the free ends of the sections 8 thereof are provided withtubular Theads 10, said heads 10 being provided with cars 11 riveted orotherwise secured to the ends of the ribs. An endless cord or flexibleelement 12 is passed through the tubular heads 10, and serves to limitthe separation of the ribs, whereby the ribs will be bowed and held inumbrella-shape when the ribs are opened. vj

The covering 13, which may be of any suitable fabric or other flexiblematerial, is sewed or otherwise secured upon the ribs and crest of theframe'or crown, whereby when the ribs are opened up, the covering willassume an umbrella or mushroom shape. The margin of the covering 13 isprovided with a hem 14: inclosing the cord 12 and tubular head 10, andif desired, the covering may be provided with a suitable lining.

An ornamental button 15 is secured upon the center of the covering andto the crest of the spider 3. An endless elastic or band 16 having acontractive tension is sewed or otherwise fastened upon the covering 13directly above the spring hinges 9 of the ribs, whereby the elastic 16tends to contract the covering 50- as to break the joints between thesections of the ribs. This elastic also assists in holding the hat inshape.

r In order to hold the ribs in open position, a flexible or resilientstrip like brace 17 is carried by each limb of the spider 3, and has itslower end 18 riveted or otherwise secured upon the outer side of saidlimb between the ends thereof. .The brace 17 is bowed 0r bent so thatits free portion rests upwardly against the respectiveinner rib section6 and the free portion of the rib is provided with angularly projectingflanges or lips 19 which overlap the edges of the respective rib forholding the brace, in place 7 relative to the rib. 'The lower ends ofthe braces 17 project downwardly or away from the crest of the spider 3,and when the braces arein the position illustrated in Fig. 3 for holdingthe ribs open, the upper or free I ends'of the braces project outwardlyaway from the center of the spider. The braces 17 can be manually sprungout of engagement with the ribs, however so that the braces can be bentsnugly'upon the limbs of the spider so as to project toward the centerof the spider under the ribs, and in which event, the ribs can be swungor folded downwardly snugly upon the spider, as illus trated in Fig. 4.

Interen a eable catch elements or sna fasteners 20 and 21 are secured tothe outer side of the band 1 and inner sides of the rib sections 6,respectively, the elements 21 being upon the inner sides of the ribsections 6 adjacent the spring hinges 9. whereby when rib sections 6 aremoved downwardly. snugly upon the spider 3, the catch elements or snapfasteners may be snapped into engagement with one another. These catchesor snap fasteners are similar to ordinary glove fasteners,'although theymay be of any suitable style.

When the device is worn as a sunshade hat, the ribs are swung outward,as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and the braces 17 are sprung under theribs to hold the ribs in opened or raised position, it being noted thatthe spring hinges 9 will tend to hold the rib sections 8 in alinementwith the sections 6. The cord 12 limits the separation of the free endsof the ribs, and the ribs will assume a bowed or curved shape, wherebythe covering 13 will assume an umbrella or mushroom shape to provide aneffective protection for the wearer from the rays of the sun.

The hat may be readily converted into a conventional style, bydisengaging the braces 17 from the ribs andthen swinging the bracesunder the ribs upon the limbs of the spider, as suggested in Fig. 4, andin which event the elastic 16 will contract the covering to'break thejoints of the ribs. The sections 6 are then swung upwardly onto thelimbs of the spider, said sections 6 bending to conform to the curvatureof the limbs of the spider. The catch elements 20 and 21 are thensnapped into engagement with one another for holding the rib sections 6in place upon the crown, and the inner ends of the rib sections 8 inseating upon the flange or lip 2 of the band 1 will hold the sections 8in ahorizontal plane, whereby that portion of the covering upon the ribsections 8 will provide the brim of the hat, while the central portionof the covering will provide the crown. The hat may now be worn similarto an ordinary hat, and the hat will not be so conspicuous as when wornas a sunshade hat. The hat can be converted readily from one form to theother according to the desires of the wearer.

The structure is quite simple, light and inexpensive in construction,and provides an admirable hat for it is intended. I

The band may be madeadjustable, so that the hat can be adjusted tovarious sizes, to

' be worn by various persons, and to this end I the band is made in twosections 1 as suggested in Fig. 7, and the ends of the band sections 1and their flanges 2 are overlapped at the opposite sides, and areprovided with slots 22 and clamping screws 23 working within the slots,whereby when the screws are loosened the sections may be adjusted. Thejoints of the band are prefer-- ably disposed between the limbs. of thespider. and between the lugs of the sweat band.

The partlG cannot only be taken to represent an elastic, but can also betaken to represent a draw cord, such as used on When a draw ribs beingadapted to be raised to provide a sunshade, and certain sections of theribs being adapted to be moved snugly upon the crown while the other ribsections project to provide a hat brim.

2. An article of headwear comprising a the purposes for which crown,ribs embodying inner and outer hinged sections, the inner sectionsof-the ribs being secured to the crown adjacent the crest thereof, meansfor holding the. ribs raised relative to the crown, a covering securedupon the ribs, the inner rib sections being adapted to be swungdownwardly upon the crown with the outer rib sections projecting toprovide a brim, and means for holding the inner rib sections upon thecrown.

3. An article of headwear embodying a crown, ribs attached theretoadjacent the crest thereof embodying hinged sections, and a coveringupon the ribs, the ribs being adapted to be raised to provide asunshade, and certain sections of the ribs being adapted to be movedsnugly upon the crown while the other rib sections project to provide ahat brim, the crown having a lower outturned flange upon which thesecond mentioned rib sections are seatable.

l. An article of headwear embodying a crown, ribs embodying inner andouter hinged sections, the inner sections of the ribs being secured tothe crown adjacent the crest thereof, means for holding the ribs raisedrelative to the crown, a covering secured upon the ribs, the inner ribsections being adapted to be swung downwardly upon the crown with theouter rib sections projecting to provide a brim, and means for holdingthe inner rib sections upon the crown, the crown having a loweroutturned flange upon which the second mentioned rib sections areseatable.

5. An article of headwear comprising a crown, flexible ribs embodyinginner and outer sections connected by spring hinges whereby the ribsections tend to straighten out, the inner rib sections being secured tothe crown adjacent the crest thereof, a flexible covering secured uponthe ribs, means for holding the inner rib sections raised relative tothe crown, and an elastic band secured to the covering adjacent thehinges of the ribs, the inner rib sections being adapted to be swungsnugly upon the crown with the outer rib sections projecting to providea brim.

6. An article of headwear comprising a crown having a lower outturnedflange, flexible ribs embodying inner and outer sections connected byspring hinges whereby the sections tend to straighten out, the inner ribsections being secured upon the crown adjacent the crest thereof, aflexible covering secured upon the ribs, means for holding the inner ribsections raised relative to the crown, an elastic band attached to thecovering adjacent the hinges of the ribs and tending to contract thecovering, the inner rib sections being adapted to be swung snugly uponthe crown with the outer rib sections seating upon said flange andprojecting to provide a brim, and means for attaching the ribs to thecrown when the inner rib sections are swung downwardly upon the crown.

7. An article of headwear, a crown, ribs embodying inner and outerhinged sections, the inner sections being secured upon the crownadjacent the crest thereof, a flexible covering secured upon the ribs,the inner rib sections being adapted to be swung downwardly snugly uponthe crown with the outer rib sections projecting to provide a brim,resilient braces attached to the crown and adapted to be bowed so thattheir free ends bear against the inner rib sections to hold the sameraised, said braces also being adapted to be swung snugly upon the crownunder the ribs, and means for attaching the ribs to the crown when theinner rib sections are swung upon the crown.

8. A convertible hat comprising a band having a lower outturned flange,an arched spider carried by the band, resilient striplike ribs embodyinginner and outer sections connected by spring hinges whereby the sectionstend to straighten out, the inner sections being secured upon the limbsof the spider adjacent the crest thereof, a flexible covering securedupon the ribs, tubular elements carried by the free ends of the ribs, acord passing through said tubular ele ments, the covering having amarginal hem inclosing said cord and tubular elements, means for holdingthe inner rib sections raised relative to the spider, the inner ribsections being adapted to be swung downwardly upon the spider with theouter rib sections resting upon the flange and projecting to provide abrim, and interengageable catch elements carried by the inner ribsections and band.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDlVAR-D M. GOYNE.

Witnesses WVALTER H. BECK, ORLOW W. BROWN.

(holes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0."

